London: 15:59

Birmingham: 16:00

Sheffield: 15:54

Southport: 15:58

Jerusalem: 16:01

London: 17:03

Birmingham: 17:08

Sheffield: 17:07

Southport: 17:13

Jerusalem: 17:18

The news of the tragic passing of Rabbi Lord Sacks zt''l has rightly dominated the week. Please SAVE THE DATE - Thursday 19 November at 8pm - for a special tribute evening to Rabbi Sacks run by the United Synagogue. Watch here on TheUS.tv.

The Prime Minister recognised Rabbi Sacks' unique contribution during Prime Minister's Questions yesterday. Many of our communities are running their own events over the coming days.

Rabbi Sacks' office is encouraging anyone who wishes to share messages of comfort, stories, video reflections, or photographs to do so by sending them to tributes@rabbisacks.org. On Tuesday we sent out a special edition of You&US with tributes; if you missed it, you can read it here.

Your help will be essential this Mitzvah Day

Sunday is Mitzvah Day and throughtout the week our communities are putting on a quite staggering range of Covid-secure volunteering projects, despite the challenges posed by Coronavirus. We wish you well with them.

As part of Mitzvah Day, the United Synagogue Chesed department is asking you to donate food items which will be used in our Essential Food Boxes which are sent each week to vulnerable United Synagogue members.

We need long-life milk, coffee, jam, peanut butter, fruit juice, tinned vegetables and tinned fish. The KLBD website offers guidance on which of these products are kosher. Please take any items to your local US shul - while observing social distancing rules. Alternatively, you can buy products to include in the boxes from our Amazon Wishlist by clicking here.

A number of Jewish schools have also volunteered to collect donations: Hertsemere Jewish Primary School, Sacks Morasha Jewish Primary School and JFS sixth form. Kantor King Solomon High Solomon will be accepting donations from December.

For more information on this, please do get in touch with my colleague Yael Peleg on ypeleg@theus.org.uk.

Shabbat shalom,

Richard Verber

Communications Director

United Synagogue

The Big Simcha Celebration

Save the date for our fabulous live lockdown concert! Was your simcha affected by Covid-19? We're throwing you the party you couldn't have! Please join us on Wednesday 25 November at 7:30pm for 'The Big Simcha Celebration'. Featuring Eitan Freilich and Luis Herszaft, as well as live guests and simcha stories, this online concert is not to be missed. We want to put YOUR name and simcha on the screen so tell us your details by clicking here. And watch the concert via the link below!

AJEX Annual Remembrance Ceremony

The United Synagogue is proud to support the AJEX Annual Remembrance Ceremony.

This year, because of Covid-19, the ceremony will be taking place as a poignant online Remembrance event rather than at The Cenotaph. The ceremony will commemorate the sacrifice and dedication of ex Servicemen and Women. This event will take place on Sunday 15 November at 2.30pm, on the AJEX YouTube Channel. Click the link below to find out more.

WATCH NOW

Natan Sharansky & Gil Troy

In case you missed Rabbi Daniel Friedman of Hampstead Garden Suburb in conversation with Natan Sharansky and Gil Troy about their new book 'Never Alone', you can watch it again by clicking on the link below.

THIS WEEK'S KABBALAT SHABBAT!

Hale Shule welcomes you tomorrow!

This Friday at 3:00pm, we're partnering with Hale Shule for an inspiring and uplifting Kabbalat Shabbat service with Rabbi Yisroel Binstock, formerly of Hendon United Synagogue. Watch live on TheUS.tv and on Facebook.

WATCH NOW

Lunch & Learn

In case you missed it, catch up on this week's Lunch & Learn with the United Synagogue's Israel Rabbi, Rabbi Gideon Sylvester, who delved into this week's Parasha, Chayei Sarah. Watch it again by clicking the link below.

WATCH NOW

The Torah of Rabbi Sacks

Join Rabbi Baruch Davis from Chigwell & Hainault United Synagogue for a new video series as he explores the Book of Bereishit. This week's talk is titled 'The Torah of Rabbi Sacks in Parashat Chayei Sarah', and is available to watch on TheUS.tv by clicking the link below.

COOKING SHOW

Bereishit Bites

Join Borehamwood & Elstree United Synagogue’s Rabbi Yaacov Finn as he cooks his way through the book of Bereishit! Each week Rabbi Finn will be bringing you a delicious new recipe to try. This week is bagels - watch it by clicking the link below.

WILLESDEN JEWISH CEMETERY

Outreach marketing volunteer needed

Help Willesden Jewish Cemetery reach new audiences! Willesden Jewish Cemetery has recently opened to the public and want to maintain and build interest to bring in a greater number of visitors. To find out more about the role click the link below.

HUMANS OF WILLESDEN CEMETERY

The story of Marcus Samuel

We are sharing the fascinating stories of some of the remarkable people laid to rest at Willesden Jewish Cemetery. This week is the story of Marcus Samuel (1853-1927). Read it by clicking the link below.

Click the play button to watch this week's D'var Torah by the Chief Rabbi.

for more Torah content, click here to read out Daf Hashavua

BOREHAMWOOD & ELSTREE UNITED SYNAGOGUE

A tribute to Rabbi Lord Sacks z"l

Join Borehamwood & Elstree for a tribute evening for Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l, on Motza'ei Shabbat 14 November at 8pm on Zoom. The event will include the opportunity to share personal reflections and memories.

EALING UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum

Join Ealing as they hear from Rabbi Dr Raphael Zarum, Dean and Head of Adult Education at LSJS. His talk will be titled: "Why were there seven days of Creation? Science, structure and meaning for today." Motza'ei Shabbat 21 November at 7pm, live on Zoom.

MILL HILL UNITED SYNAGOGUE

The Malki Roth story

Join Kenton as they hear from Arnold Roth, father of Malki who was killed in the Sbarro shop bombing, who will be in conversation with Mill Hill's Rabbi Yitzchak Schochet. Tonight at 8pm, live on Zoom and the United Synagogue Facebook page.

SHENLEY UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Shenley presents: Ian Grosskopf

Join Shenley as they hear from Ian Grosskopf, who will be discussing 'Hatzola - the History, the Service, and the Team', including how Hatzola operates and some of Ian's personal Hatzola experiences. Monday 16 November at 7:30pm, live on Zoom.

BUSHEY UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Bushey presents: Moe Mernick

Bushey's 'BLT Series' is back! Join them as they hear from Moe Mernick, an entrepreneur, author and lecturer who overcame a debilitating stutter and became a motivational speaker. Wednesday 18 November at 8.30pm on Zoom.

RICHMOND UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Ivrit poetry evening

Join Richmond Jewish Community Hub for an evening of poetry, where poems will be presented in Hebrew, with English translation. Registration required. Wednesday 18 November at 7pm.

HAMPSTEAD GARDEN SUBURB SYNAGOGUE

Anne "Chani" Neuberger

Join Hampstead Garden Suburb as they hear from Anne "Chani" Neuberge, Director of Cybersecurity at the National Security Agency, in conversation with Rabbanit Batya Friedman. Sunday 22 November at 8pm.

GOLDERS GREEN UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Mitzvah Day 2020

Join Golders Green this Mitzvah Day for 'Charities and Giving in the Age of Covid-19', a panel discussion on the diverse challenges facing the charitable sector during the pandemic, followed by 'A Sustainable Ready Steady Cook Off'. Sunday 15 November at 8pm, live on Zoom.

KENTON UNITED SYNAGOGUE

How do you rehabilitate Nazis?

Join Kenton as they hear from Robert Bieber MBE, a Visiting Research Fellow in War Studies at King's College, who will be discussing the remarkable tale of Jewish Army Officers who successfully rehabilitated their former SS enemies. Monday 16 November at 8pm.

COCKFOSTERS & N SOUTHGATE SYNAGOGUE

Western Hemisphere's oldest shul

Nidhe Israel is the Western Hemisphere’s oldest synagogue. It was developed by Sephardi Jewish settlers who arrived in Barbados from Brazil around 1628. This is a free event but booking is essential. Next Tuesday (17 November), 2pm.

EDGWARE UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Edgware presents: Paul Charney

Join Edgware for Wednesday Night Live, as they hear from Paul Charney, chairman of the Zionist Federation, whose talk will be titled 'The Middle East conflict from another perspective!'. Wednesday 18 November at 7pm, live on Zoom.

MUSWELL HILL UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Muswell Hill presents: David Nott

Join Muswell Hill as they hear from David Nott, a Welsh consultant surgeon, who will be in conversation with Rachel Anticoni, discussing 'Risk and Resilience. Sunday 15 November at 8pm, live on Zoom.

RICHMOND UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Family e-funday

Join Richmond for a fun and educational online e-funday, with activities for children to boost their problem-solving and creativity while learning about music. Tickets are £5 per screen. Sunday 15 November at 11am.

KENTON UNITED SYNAGOGUE

Kenton salutes its heroes

Join Kenton for their Annual Service of Remembrance, in memory of those who lost their lives whilst serving in HM Armed Forces. Hear from guest speaker Ron Shelley, AJEX Vice President. Tonight at 8pm, live on Zoom.

WHAT'S ON?

Online events

Despite the challenges of lockdown we've got lots of great events taking place online! See what virtual events are happening in our communities every week by checking out the United Synagogue events portal.

Welcome to 'Tell US', our new section where we invite you to contribute a joke, a poem or a story. We look forward to turning the spotlight on your literary creations over the coming weeks and months!

This week's contribution is by Miriam Cohen, a member of Birmingham Central Synagogue.

Oh dear me

Arthritis in my knee

Can’t walk far

Only go by car

See my daughters every day

My son’s in Israel far away

Loads of kids, great and grand

There’s always someone near at hand

They give me joy and loads of laughs

Help me in and out of baths

And when they’ve gone and head for home